Method for automated clinical sampling of a body fluid

ABSTRACT

Sample numbers, which are encoded information about samples including a body fluid and contained in original containers, are affixed to the original containers. The test system memorizes the sample number including a rack number attached to each original container rack and coordinates of each original container in the original container rack. Then, it determines whether or not a sample in the original containers should be dispensed in each dispensing container set in the dispensing container rack using the pre-dispensing sample positional information including a rack number attached to each original container rack and coordinates of each original container in the original container rack, as a key. Based on the determination, an automatic dispensing machine dispense a to-be-dispensed sample into an associated one of the dispensing containers, and memorizes the sample numbers in association with post-dispensing sample positional information including a rack number affixed to the dispensing container rack where sample-dispensed dispensing containers are set and coordinates of the dispensing containers in the dispensing container rack. The sample number may have a mark obtained by simplifying the sample number in accordance with a predetermined regularity so that operators can find sample easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic clinical sample dispensingmethod and system for dispensing a sample including a body fluid, suchas blood, blood plasma, blood serum or urine, from its originalcontainer into a dispensing container to examine the sample, and aclinical sample indicating method.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a conventional clinical sampledispensing method. A label 2 showing a sample number, which is acquiredby encoding information, such as patient name, test specifyinginformation and the requester's name, into a numeral or the like, isstuck on an original container 1 (like a test tube typically 12 mm or 16mm in diameter) containing a sample, in a hospital or the like. Then,the original container 1 is sent to a clinical laboratory, i.e., asample test laboratory. The necessary items described on a sample testrequest sheet 3 are input into a host computer 4 in the sample testlaboratory, by use of, for example, punched cards or keyboards. The hostcomputer 4 prepares a list 5 of sample numbers of dispensing containers6 which are set on dispensing container racks 12 and 14. Based on thelist 5, a laboratory technologist, i.e., a worker or tester 8 stores thecorrelation between the coordinates of the original containers 1 in anoriginal container rack 9 and those of the dispensing containers 6 inthe dispensing container rack 12 into a memory of an automaticdispensing machine (not shown), and dispenses samples from the originalcontainers 1 set in the original container rack 9 into the associateddispensing containers 6. The worker 8 then sets the dispensing containerrack 12, which is holding the dispensing containers 6 containing thesamples, in an automatic analyzer 13. When there are samples whichrequire manual testing denoted by number 11, these are dispensed intodispensing containers 6 in another dispensing container rack 14 for suchtesting. Further, precision dispensing may be conducted using anautomatic precision dispensing machine 15. The results of the test areoutput from the host computer 4 on a report 16 which is sent to thephysician, i.e., test requester.

In the prior art as described above, the dispensing destinations arespecified by the worker 6, i.e., manually. Using this method, there is apossibility that the tester's hands, for example, will becomecontaminated by samples or some other sanitary problem will occur,samples will be spilled accidentally, or the wrong dispensingdestination selected. Further, since sample dispensing is carried outaccording to the list 5 showing the correlation between samples and thedispensing containers 6 and prepared in advance by the computer 4, whenthere is any sample that cannot be dispensed for some reasons, theassociated dispensing container 6 in the dispensing container rack 12becomes empty. If there is an empty container in the dispensingcontainer rack 12, however, an ordinary automatic analyzer 13 thereafterconsiders the empty container as a vacant spot, i.e., not containing asample container. When an empty container is found in the dispensingcontainer rack 12, the original container 1 which contains theassociated sample is searched for and dispensing work is performedmanually. Such dispensing failures by the automatic dispensing machineaffect typically 3 to 5% of all the samples per day amounting to tens ofthousands of cases, for example. Every time an empty container is found,the worker 8 must look for the associated original container, thuslowering working efficiency. In addition, as the sample number is alarge number including, for example, six digits, it is not easy, andtakes time, to find the original container having the sample number inquestion in a sample storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anautomatic sample dispensing method and system capable of accurately andefficiently dispensing samples, and to provide a sample indicatingmethod.

To achieve above mentioned object, according to the present invention,in a sample testing system for affixing sample numbers, which areencoded information about samples, each including a body fluid,contained in a number of original containers, to the associated originalcontainers, accepting the original containers affixed with the samplenumbers, and dispensing necessary amounts of samples from the originalcontainers into dispensing containers to which a single test item or agroup of test items is assigned and testing the dispensed samples, basedon test specifying information corresponding to the sample numbersaffixed to the original containers, an automatic sample dispensingmethod comprising the steps of:

setting a plurality of original containers in each original containerrack and memorizing individual sample numbers in association withpre-dispensing sample positional information including a rack numberattached to each original container rack and coordinates of eachoriginal container in the original container rack; and

for a dispensing container rack containing a plurality of dispensingcontainers to each of which at least one test item is assigned,determining whether or not a sample in each of the original containersset in the original container rack should be dispensed for the eachoriginal container set in the original container rack, using thepre-dispensing sample positional information as a key, permitting anautomatic dispensing machine to dispense a to-be-dispensed sample intoan associated one of the dispensing containers set in the dispensingcontainer rack, and memorizing the sample numbers in association withpost-dispensing sample positional information including of a rack numberaffixed to the dispensing container rack where sample-dispenseddispensing containers are set and coordinates of the dispensingcontainers in the dispensing container rack.

In the automatic sample dispensing method of the present invention,those dispensing containers to which different single test items areassigned and/or those dispensing containers to which a group of testitems is assigned may be retained in a single dispensing container rack,and, after dispensing is completed, the dispensing containers may besorted into second dispensing container racks for a same single testitem or each group of test items, based on the post-dispensing samplepositional information.

Further, in the automatic sample dispensing method according to thepresent invention, plural types of apparently identifiableidentification means may be affixed to a label to be attached to each ofthe dispensing containers so that a combination of the identificationmeans forms a given pattern with the dispensing containers set in eachof the second dispensing container rack, and whether proper or impropersorting has been conducted may be determined depending on whether thegiven pattern has been formed.

An automatic sample dispensing system for executing the automatic sampledispensing method of the present invention, comprises:

a main line for conveying original container racks for which samplenumbers have been memorized in association with the pre-dispensingsample positional information;

a plurality of dispensing lines branching from the main line;

automatic dispensing machines respectively disposed in the dispensinglines;

reading units, disposed at branching portion where the dispensing linesare separated from the main line, for reading the rack numbers of theoriginal container racks;

determining means for determining whether a sample to be dispensed inone of the dispensing lines exists in an original container rack basedon the rack number of the original container rack read by the associatedreading unit; and

means for, when the discrimination means has determined that there is asample to be dispensed in an original container in an original containerrack, allowing the original container rack containing the sample to beconveyed on an associated dispensing line.

In the automatic sample dispensing system of the present invention,those of the dispensing lines to be branched from the main line whichdispense a large number of samples having fewer test items may bearranged upstream of the main line, and those of the dispensing lines tobe branched from the main line which dispense a small number of samplesfor mainly manual testing having a large number of test items may bearranged downstream of the main line.

In a sample testing system of the present invention, for affixing samplenumbers, which are encoded information about samples, each including abody fluid, contained in a number of original containers, to theassociated original containers, accepting the original containersaffixed with the sample numbers, and dispensing samples from theoriginal containers into dispensing containers to which a single testitem or a group of test items is assigned and testing the dispensedsamples, based on test specifying information corresponding to thesample numbers affixed to the original containers, a sample indicatingmethod comprising the step of:

affixing a mark, which is a sample number simplified with a regularity,to each of the original containers or the dispensing containers inaddition to the sample number.

According to the method of the present invention, at the time of sampledispensing, pre-dispensing sample positional information about a targetoriginal container rack is referred to in the order of the coordinatesof the original container rack, and a sample that should be dispensed inthe associated dispensing container rack, if found, is dispensed in thatrack. If a dispensing failure occurs due to coagulation of blood or thelike, this event is memorized as a dispensing failure and sampledispensing is carried out so that there are no empty dispensingcontainers in the dispensing container rack.

After dispensing is completed, the step of sorting the dispensingcontainers into second dispensing container racks for the same singletest item or groups of test items based on the post-dispensing samplepositional information is mainly carried out for groups of tests thatinvolve a large number of test items and small in quantity. In thisstep, those dispensing containers in which samples which will undergosuch a test have been dispensed are collectively set in the seconddispensing container rack.

When the dispensing containers are sorted in the second dispensingcontainer rack, the work of affixing plural types of clearlyidentifiable identification means to a label to be stuck on eachdispensing container for confirmation of correct sorting is conducted bydetermining whether or not such identification means should be affixedon those sample-dispensed dispensing containers through predeterminedarithmetic operations.

According to the system of the present invention, it is determinedwhether or not an original container rack should be transferred to adispensing line from the main line, i.e., it is determined whether ornot there is an automatic dispensing machine in the dispensing linewhich should dispense the sample in an original container in thatoriginal container rack, based on the sample number memorized inassociation with the pre-dispensing sample positional information. Ifthere is a specified automatic dispensing machine which should dispensethe sample, the original container rack is transferred from the mainline to this dispensing line, while if there is no specified automaticdispensing machine which should dispense the sample, the originalcontainer rack is conveyed to downstream of the main line. The originalcontainer racks which have been used for dispensing operations arereturned to the main line and are conveyed to downstream thereof.

The sample indicating method according to the present invention places amark including a small number of characters, symbols or the like to eachsample number, so that a person searching for particular samples caneasily identify them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention that are believed to be novel areset forth particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by referenceto the following description of the presently preferred embodiments,together with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram exemplifying a system that executes amethod of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining how to read a sample number of anoriginal container to be set in an original container rack;

FIGS. 2B and 2C are diagrams for explaining pre-dispensing samplepositional information and post-dispensing sample positional informationused in the method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an automatic sample dispensing systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the structure of a branchingportion used in the system according to this embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the structure of an automaticdispensing machine;

FIG. 5A is an exemplary diagram showing the labeling of dispensingcontainers of samples that are to be manually tested in the case of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5B is a plan view showing identification means placed on labelsstuck on the top faces of the dispensing containers retained in adispensing container rack and the arrangement of labels on dispensingcontainers sorted in a second dispensing container rack in the case ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an original container showing a sampleindicating method according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional sampletesting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described,with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the structureof a system that works out a sample dispensing method according to thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes anoptical reader for reading an original container rack number 21 of anoriginal container rack 9, reference numeral 22 denotes an opticalreader for reading a bar-code portion of a sample number recorded on alabel 2 placed on original container 9, and reference numeral 23 denotesa terminal computer for storing and transferring information read out bythe optical readers 20 and 22. (The sample number includes a numeral 55besides a bar code 54, as shown in FIG. 6.) Reading the sample numbersis executed such that the original containers 1 are placed in firstcolumn (e.g., ten containers) in the original container rack 9, andtheir sample numbers are automatically read by the optical reader 22,after which second column of original containers 1 are arranged andsubjected to sample number reading, and so forth, until the rack becomesfull (five columns in this embodiment), as shown in FIG. 2A. Theterminal computer 23 transfers the sample numbers of the originalcontainers 1 in association with pre-dispensing sample positionalinformation, which includes of the original container rack number 21 ofthe original container rack 9 and their coordinates in the rack 9, to anauxiliary host computer 25, as shown in FIG. 2B. The auxiliary hostcomputer 25, which exchanges necessary information with a host computer4, stores the received information.

As shown in FIG. 3, two main lines 30 each for conveying the originalcontainer rack 9 including the original containers 1 having undergoneinformation reading by the above reading device are provided inconsideration of possible failure. There are provided dispensing lines32a to 32j branching from each main line 30. Each of the dispensinglines 32a-32j has automatic dispensing machines 33 (three automaticdispensing machines 33 in each dispensing line in this embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 4A, the main line 30 comprises a roller conveyercomprising a number of rollers arranged side by side so that when theyare rotated, they convey a rack placed thereon. At each branchingportion of the main line 30, an optical reader 35 is provided whichreads the original container rack number 21. Provided in the downstreamproximity of the optical reader 35 is an air cylinder 36 serving as anactuator for feeding the original container rack 9 to the associated oneof the dispensing lines 32a-32j when the original container rack 9 whoserack number 21 has been read by the optical reader 35 contains anoriginal container 1 whose sample should be dispensed in that dispensingline. Stoppers 37 and 38 are provided in the vicinity of the opticalreader 35 and air cylinder 36 on the main line 30 such that they can beurged up and down between the rollers of the main line 30 by means of,for example, air cylinders (not shown).

A terminal computer 31 is provided in each main line 30, as shown inFIG. 1. Each terminal computer 31 relays information between theauxiliary host computer 25 and the automatic dispensing machine 33,optical reader 35 and air cylinder 36 and performs line control.

In the case of each of the dispensing lines 32a-32j, samples to bedispensed are determined previously. More specifically, the dispensinglines 32a to 32c serve to dispense samples which are to be tested by anautomatic analyzer for multiple biochemical items, the dispensing lines32d to 32f serve to dispense samples which are to be tested by anautomatic analyzer for another single biochemical item, and thedispensing lines 32g and 32h serve to dispense samples which are to besubjected to a special test using a radioisotope. The downstreamdispensing lines 32i and 32j are provided mainly to dispense sampleswhich are to be undergone a manual test 11, i.e., samples small innumber and to be subjected to many types of tests.

In driving the air cylinder 36 based on the original container racknumber 21 read by the associated optical reader 35, first, the originalcontainer rack number 21 read by the optical reader 35 is temporarilystored in the terminal computer 31. The terminal computer 31 determineswhether or not samples set in the original container rack 9 are to bedispensed in the associated dispensing line, from the sample numbercorresponding to the pre-dispensing sample positional information of therack 9, which has been sent from the terminal computer 23 to theauxiliary host computer 25 and stored there. If there is such a sample,the terminal computer 31 checks if that dispensing line is full. If thisdispensing line is not full, the terminal computer 31 retracts thestopper 37 downward while thrusting the stopper 38 up, and feeds theoriginal container rack 9 forward until it abuts against the stopper 38,and then protracts the air cylinder 36 to put the rack 9 on a rollerconveyor 34 of the dispensing line. The worker 8 in charge of thatdispensing line picks the original container rack 9 up and sets it whereit should be. If the dispensing line is full and if there is anotherdispensing line downstream which performs the same type of sampledispensing, the original container rack 9 is to be conveyed downstream.

FIG. 4B illustrates the structure of the automatic dispensing machine33. The automatic dispensing machine 33 positions a dispensing nozzle 43by means of X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis motors 40, 41 and 42. A dispensingterminal computer 45 controls the motors 40-42 and a cylinder drivingmotor 44 to drive the dispensing cylinder 47 which is connected to adispensing nozzle 43 by a plastic tube to thereby dispense a sample inan original container 1 in the original container rack 9 into anassociated dispensing container 6 in a dispensing container rack 12. Astraw-shaped pipe 46 is attached to the tip of the dispensing nozzle 43to suck a sample every time of dispensing.

In dispensing a sample from the original container 1 in the originalcontainer rack 9 set in the automatic dispensing machine 33 into theassociated dispensing container 6 in the dispensing container rack 12,the worker 8 allows the terminal computer 45 of the automatic dispensingmachine 33 to read the rack number 21 of the original container rack 9and the rack number 24 of the dispensing container rack 12 and thenenters a key command into the terminal computer 45 to initiate sampledispensing. In response to the keyed-in command and from the samplenumbers supplied from the auxiliary host computer 25, the terminalcomputer 45 dispenses a to-be-dispensed sample among those retained inthe original containers 1 set in the original container rack 9 into theassociated dispensing container 6 through the terminal computer 31 ofthe main line 30. When every dispensing container 6 set in thedispensing container rack 12 becomes full or is filled with a dispensedsample, the worker 8 carries out the dispensing container rack 12 in theroute indicated by the broken line B in FIG. 3. (The flow of theoriginal container rack 9 is shown by the solid line C in FIG. 3.) Whenthere remains no samples in the original containers 1 in the originalcontainer rack 9 which should be dispensed in that dispensing line, thatrack 9 is returned to the main line 30 and is then conveyed downstream.

If no sample is dispensed in the target dispensing container 6 or theamount of the dispensed sample is insufficient, the event of no samplesucked up into the pipe 46 or the suction of an insufficient amount of asample is detected by an optical sensor, which monitors the fluid levelin the pipe 46, or by a state where the pressure in the cylinder 43 doesnot become negative. In this case, the pre-dispensing sample positionalinformation including the original container rack number 21 and thecoordinates of the original container 1 in question is stored in adispensing failure area in the auxiliary host computer 25. Even if thereis a dispensing failure, samples are put into the dispensing containers6 in the dispensing container rack 12 in order from younger coordinatesto older ones to leave no empty dispensing containers in that rack 12.When a sample is dispensed into every dispensing container 6 in eachdispensing container rack 12, for that rack 12, the terminal computer 45stores post-dispensing sample positional information including thedispensing container rack number and the coordinates therein inassociation with the sample numbers in the auxiliary host computer 25through the terminal computer 31 of the main line 30, as shown in FIG.2C.

After completion of such sample dispensing, the automatic analyzer 13performs automatic analysis on the samples in the sample-dispenseddispensing containers 6 set in the dispensing container rack 12 underthe control of each terminal computer 50. The terminal computer 50 ofthe automatic analyzer 13 performs analysis based on the informationstored in the auxiliary host computer 25 in the above-describeddispensing operation.

With regard to dispensing containers 6 which should undergo a manualtest 11, sorting 51 which will be explained below is to be executed foreach location for the manual test 11. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, alabeling machine 60 reads the rack number of the dispensing containerrack 12, and puts cutable labels 61 on a column of (ten) dispensingcontainers 6, using a printing machine, based on the information storedin association with that rack number in the auxiliary host computer 25.The individual labels 61 may have different alphabets, A, B, C, and soforth, marked on the tops of the associated dispensing containers 6 fordifferent types of manual testing as shown in FIG. 5B, or may havesample numbers (reception numbers assigned in order for a single testitem or a group of multiple test items for that day), etc. (not shown)printed on the sides of the dispensing containers 6. The worker checkswhat is on the labels put on the dispensing containers 6 and sorts thedispensing containers 6 into a second dispensing container rack 14prepared for each single test item or each group of test items.

In order to promptly determine whether or not the sorting has been doneproperly, the labels are colored or are affixed with identificationmeans such as marks in such a way that a predetermined pattern is formedwhen the dispensing containers 6 set in the dispensing container rack 12are sorted into the second dispensing container rack 14 prepared foreach single test item or each group of test items. In FIG. 5Billustrating the second dispensing container rack for a test item A,black marks form a zigzag pattern. The affixing of the identificationmeans may be accomplished as follows: The auxiliary host computer 25assigns serial numbers to the samples received that day for eachassigned single test item or each assigned group of test items, and setsthe sample arrangement from the serial numbers in such a way that whenthe samples are placed in the second dispensing container rack 14, thosesamples which should be located at predetermined positions have coloredlabels. With the use of this method, when the worker sorts thedispensing containers improperly, the pattern is disturbed so that theworker can spot the wrong sorting at a glance and can correct thesorting of the samples.

For those samples which should be measured very strictly, they areaccurately measured by an automatic precise dispensing machine 15 beforebeing subjected to a manual test 11. The original container racks 9containing samples which have been dispensed are stored at predeterminedpositions in a sample storage 52 for a predetermined period of time. Theoriginal container racks 9 are located in the sample storage 50 so thatan operator can easily see the original rack number 21, and distinguish,and identify them by the original rack number 21.

Those samples whose dispensing by the automatic dispensing machine 33has been failed are to be manually dispensed. For any dispensing-failedsample, therefore, the worker 8 looks for the original container 1 whichcontains the target sample and is stored in the sample storage 52 afterbeing conveyed on the main line 30, and puts the sample in the automaticanalyzer 13 for the required analysis or subjects it to a manual test11. In conducting a test on such an original container 1, if theposition of the original container rack 9 in the sample storage 50 andcoordinates of each original container 1 in the original rack 9 are setequal to those specified by the predispensing sample positionalinformation, target original container 1 can be easily found. Further,if a bar code 54 and a numeral 55 as a sample number as well as a mark56 acquired by encoding the sample number by a certain regularity areput in a label, as shown in FIG. 6, whether the found original containeris correct one or not can easily be detected through the mark 56. As themark 56, a word including alphabets, a numeral, katakana or hiragana(Japanese alphabets) or the like is preferable in view of simpleindication and easy identification. The mark 56 is designed to have acertain regularity with the sample number.

It is preferable that the mark 56 should express a familiar animal orplant name, a person's name, or the like by fewer alphabets or numbers.In this embodiment, the mark 56 is indicated by no more than threealphabets, and is selected in such a way that the sample numberincluding six digits is divided by "197," and "1" is added to theremainder, and if the resultant number is "1, " "TOM" is put on thelabel 2 as the mark 56, if the resultant number is "2, " it is "BAG,"and if the resultant number is "197, " it is "DOG." The worker cantherefore easily and certainly identify the target sample. If the samplenumber is simplified by encoding in the above manner, the same code maybe given to many samples. However, since the same code appears once forseveral hundred samples, this method is sufficient to ensure visualconfirmation. Further, the samples even with the same code caneventually be confirmed as different when they are checked against theirsample numbers, so that no practical problems will not arise. Althoughaffixing such a mark 56 can apply to ordinary sample testing systemsother than the sample testing system of the present invention, thismeasure, when used to look for dispensing-failed samples in the systemof the present invention, will show its effectiveness in accurately andefficiently dispensing a group of dispensing-failed samples in the laststage. The mark 56 may be put on the dispensing container 6.

In short, according to the automatic sample dispensing method embodyingthe present invention, at the time of sample dispensing by an automaticdispensing machine, samples are sequentially dispensed in the dispensingcontainers set in the dispensing container rack in accordance with thecoordinates of the containers in that rack and information on thedispensed samples is given in association with pre-dispensing samplepositional information previously memorized, so that no samples will bedispensed in the wrong destinations. Even when a failure occurs indispensing a sample in any dispensing container in the dispensingcontainer rack in this dispensing work, the sample dispensing is carriedout without leaving any empty dispensing container in that rack. Unlikein the prior art, therefore, at the time the dispensing container rackis set in the automatic analyzer, it is unnecessary to perform atimeconsuming job of looking for the original containers correspondingto empty dispensing containers, thus significantly improving thedispensing efficiency.

Further, since those samples having fewer test items can be sorted aftersubjected to automatic dispensing, the active conditions of dispensinglines which have a small number of samples can be made to approach theactive conditions of those dispensing lines having a large number ofsamples, ensuring efficient use of the lines.

According to the automatic sample dispensing system embodying thepresent invention, the original containers can be automatically fed intoan automatic dispensing machine, so that the conveyance can be conductedefficiently and without requiring much labor.

Further, a number of samples are collectively dispensed at the upstreamof the main line while a small number of samples mainly for manualtesting are dispensed at the downstream of the main line. The dispensinglines can therefore be activated evenly in the entire system, resultingin high availability factor and eliminating the need for a large numberof dispensing lines. This can reduce the line-occupying area so that anefficient system can be realized.

Furthermore, the sample indicating method according to the presentinvention can allow a person to quickly and easily find target samples,thus contributing to efficient sample dispensing with less labor.

The present examples and embodiments are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limitedto the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a sample testing system for affixing samplenumbers, representing encoded information about samples and whichsamples include a body fluid contained in a plurality of originalcontainers, to respective one of said original containers, acceptingsaid original containers affixed with said sample numbers, anddispensing necessary amounts of samples from said original containersinto dispensing containers to which a single test item or a group oftest items is assigned and testing said dispensed samples, based on testspecifying information corresponding to said sample numbers affixed tosaid original containers, an automatic sample dispensing methodcomprising the steps of:setting a plurality of original containers inrows and columns in each of a plurality of original container racks andmemorizing individual sample numbers in association with pre-dispensingsample positional information including a rack number attached to eachoriginal container rack and coordinates of each original container insaid original container rack; conveying in a main line each originalcontainer rack the pre-dispensing sample positional information of whichis memorized; determining, for a dispensing container rack containing aplurality of dispensing containers in rows and columns to each of whichdispensing containers at least one test item is assigned, and at abranching portion including dispensing lines separated from said mainline to each of which dispensing lines at least one test item isassigned, whether or not a sample in each of said original containersset in said original container rack should be dispensed, using saidpre-dispensing sample positional information; automatically dispensing ato-be-dispensed sample from an original container in said originalcontainer rack into an associated one of said dispensing containers setin said dispensing container rack; memorizing said sample numbers inassociation with post-dispensing sample positional information includinga rack number affixed to said dispensing container rack wheresample-dispensed dispensing containers are set and coordinates of saiddispensing containers in said dispensing container rack; and retainingin a single dispensing container rack those dispensing containers towhich different single test items are assigned and/or those dispensingcontainers to which a group of test items is assigned, and, afterdispensing is completed, sorting said dispensing containers into seconddispensing container racks for a same single test item or each group oftest items, based on said post-dispensing sample positional information.2. The automatic sample dispensing method according to claim 1, furtherincluding a plurality of identifiable identification means affixed to alabel to be attached to each of said dispensing containers so that acombination of said identification means forms a given pattern with saiddispensing containers set in each of said second dispensing containerrack, and determining whether proper or improper sorting has beenconducted depending on whether said given pattern has been formed.